Description Chord Electronics DAVE DAC Digital Preamplifier Chord Electronics DAVE DAC Digital Preamplifier is the most advanced DAC they have ever made. It features the very best conversion technology available, using proprietary techniques never seen before, making DAVE the most advanced DAC/preamp amplifier in the world. DAVE stands for ‘Digital to Analogue Veritas in Extremis’, a moniker that best reflects the product’s capability; a device so advanced and with so few compromises, that it is truthful in the extreme. DAVE, which is also a reference-level headphone amplifier and digital preamp, distils over twenty years of Chord Electronics’ research, development and advanced engineering into one device. At its heart lies the advanced Spartan 6 Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) with 1,000x the processing power of a traditional mass-produced chip DAC. DAVE’s FPGA is loaded with over a million lines of code to confront complex timing issues head-on, with speed and precision. The FPGA’s extraordinary capability enables a number of key sonic benefits, including significantly improved timing and the best noise-shaper performance of any known DAC. DAVE’s technology delivers music with unmatched reality and musicality, with an unrivalled timing response. The device’s lossless digital volume control outputs the signal direct to your power amplifier for the purest experience. DAVE has a large LC display, showing input, sample frequency, volume and set-up configurations options, within our famous porthole design. On its fascia, DAVE also features a rotary encoder with a large stainless steel controller and ball buttons, enabling direct interactivity in addition to the supplied remote control. View Owners Manual >> View Quick Start Guide >> View Chord Products >> Reviews “We’re truly smitten with the DAVE. It’s not perfect, though. Some of the ergonomic decisions are pretty odd, and that stunning appearance won’t be to everyone’s tastes. But give it high quality recordings while partnering it with a suitably talented system and we think you’ll be amazed with just how good your music sounds.” What Hi-Fi | Read Review “A veritable tour-de-force of digital engineering – has the ability to transform your CDs and high-resolution files.” HiFi World | Read Review “Judging by the tremendous sound quality on offer the FPGA technology of Chord DACs really works. Having listened to some of the latest ESS Sabre DAC chipsets, admittedly in cheaper converters, this DAC is clearly in another league.” The Ear | Read Review Features Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz flat within /-0.1dB (HF filter off) Tap length filter: 164,000 THD N: 127.5dB (AWT) Channel separation: >125dB @ 1KHz Dynamic range: 127.5dB (AWT) Sample frequencies: 44.1Khz – 768Khz (16 – 32bit) and DSD64 to DSD512 native DSD DoP (input dependant) Digital inputs: 4x 75Ω S/PDIF BNC Coax – 44.1kHz to 384kHz 1x AES XLR – 44.1kHz to 96kHz 2x Fibre Optic TOSLINK – 44.1kHz to 96kHz 1x USB Type B – 44.1kHz to 768kHz (16 – 32bit) – PCM and DSD Analogue outputs: 1x Stereo Pair of Unbalanced RCA 1x Stereo Pair of Balanced XLR 1x ¼” TRS Jack Headphone Output 164k tap FPGA DAC 768kHz Type B USB Input x 768kHz BNC Coax Inputs 2x 96kHz AES/EBU Inputs 2x 96kHz Optical Inputs Expandable DXO Inputs 1x Unbalanced RCA Outputs 1x Balanced XLR Outputs 1x ¼” Headphone Output Supports 800Ω Headphones Configurable Crossfeed Standalone Preamp Function Galvanically Isolated USB Supports up to 768kHz Native DSD Supported DSD 512 (8x) Capable Solid Aluminium Chassis Accessories DAVE Quickstart guide Safety instructions 10A Mains IEC cable IR Remote control Type-A USB to Type-B USB cable Optical cable 2x AAA batteries Specifications Frequency Response: 20Hz to 20kHz /- 0.1dB THD N: -127.5dB (AWT) Channel Separation: >125dB @ 1kHz Dynamic Range: 5dB (AWT) Headphone Output: 1% THD 6.8v RMS with 300Ω (154mW) 1% THD 6.8v RMS with 33Ω (1.4w) Output Impedance: 055Ω (short circuit protected) Operating voltage: 90v AC – 250v AV auto switching 50Hz – 60Hz Power consumption: Full power – 40 W Standby – 10 W Dimensions (including connectors): 8cm (H) 33.5cm (W) 15.2cm (D) Weight: 5kg
